I was driving on a rural Minnesota road in a blizzard this week, and snapped an ordinary BlackBerry photo through the windshield. At first glance, I thought the image lacked depth. Then I saw the open space, perfect for poetry. So I altered the photo in Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 and added text (a haiga) in response to inspiration from Lotus, Bamboo Morning (Haiga). I did a lot of photo work with alternative processes during the years I worked in the darkroom. But so far I’ve been a purist with digital photography; this is opening a whole new world for me.

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Sinclair, it looked exactly like Fargo, much like the winter trips I have taken with Liz to North Dakota. I think I even mentioned that to her after I got home that night. The last few days of driving on Twin Cities roads has proved challenging! This particular day, it was only snowing a tiny bit when I left the Cities to go pick up a huge machine and load it in the back of the pick-up. I was heading to Zimmerman. By the time I got to Elk River, there were white out conditions, blowing wind, could not see past my face! Had to go 40 mph the whole way back. I was happy to have the weight in the truck bed on the return drive. I have not shoveled this much snow in years! In fact, have another batch to go out and shovel this afternoon. At least, it’s sunny!

Robin, thank you. Very cold that day. I’ve noticed the poetry I’m writing these days is colder, too. Trying to process all the craziness that’s going on, even at my own back door. It all seems to comes back to right here, right now — a blizzard on the road. How do I settle in to the moment? Photography has always been a way I can do that. It’s so grounding. I want to start visiting my online photography friends’ spaces more. Thanks for stopping by. Your recent citrus photographs are amazing.

Yes, winter has a way of affecting the way we see the ordinary, brings out moods that aren’t so forceful in calmer times. I find the ice patterns mesmerizing.

Never have tried to add words to photos , excet very early on in my photo career when I was doing an alphabet.
Never a poem though. Are you finding it challenging, a new adventure, something you enjoy or something you’ll need to get accustomed to?

This winter will be a short one for me–heading south for a couple of art shows sandwiched between 2 months of desert warm. It will be a new experience for me, that is for sure!

Bo, which part of South? Southeast or Southwest. And you are staying for 2 months? That sounds like heaven. This Winter has been a long one, and I love Winter. It’s usually a time of reflection for me. But lately, I’ve been missing the sun on my face.

Good question about words & photos. In the digital realm, I’m brand new at it. The jury is still out. It can be time consuming because I don’t know the software yet. But I am enjoying it. Most of my work at MCAD combined text & writing with my art and photos. I’ve always leaned in that direction. They are good together.

In the digital photo arena, I’m reluctant to commit to even more time on the computer. Though in some ways it’s easier to do it all on the computer, it has a different quality than paper work.

I kind of want to try adding my printed photos to paper collage. ybonesy is inspiring that way. And Liz did a lot of collage with The Sketchbook Project. It looks fun to me. Hey, how did you feel about The Sketchbook Project? Was it fun for you? Would you do it again?

I find photography grounding too. It has also been a great help with one or two phobias, especially my fear of heights. When we hike in the mountains and reach a spot that brings on the panic, I start taking pictures. After a minute or two of that, I forget all about the panic and can move on again.

QM, This is lovely, in a chilling way. I think it HAS great depth, with the road narrowing to a point. Reminds me of the time I was driving from Fargo to Bismarck and a snow plow sped by me, throwing snow which plastered my windshield! What a scary few minutes I had before it let me see where I was going!! As I was on the Interstate, I didn’t dare stop for fear of being rear-ended! I felt like I truly understood the panic of “flying blind!”

oliverowl, thank you so much. BTW, that’s exactly how I felt on this drive. I had to go about 40mph most of the drive. And there was one point where I was behind a plow or a few semi’s. Could not see a thing!